The Cecil Whig., 1887-10-29
THE FARMERS CLUB.
The October Meeting at Mr..
MapraW'S.

The regular monthly meeting of the
Cecil Farmers Club, was held at the
residence of Mr.. A. X. Magraw on Wed
nesday the 26Lh inst, with the President
5. K. Carson, E>qr., III the chair. The
following members were present, n. X.
Magraw, \. J. Michener, John 5. Z wing,
John r. Bond, IL. II. Duy ckinck, George
W. Sutton, Enoch Noyes, W. w. Moore,
and Thomas c. Bond, Mr.. Lloyd Bilder-
ston being the only visitor present. The
minutes of the last meeting having been
read aud adopted the president called
for the report on experiments.
Mr.. Duyckinck stated that, owing to
the grass in it, he had worked some corn
quite late in the season. 1t had been
drilled in, and was worked with Guilt
vator set close. He found when the corn
matured. that the part worked was much
inferior to the part that had not been
worked. He thought this would not have
been the case had the corn been younger.
Mr. Carson thought the injury due to
the cultivator having been too deep
Others thought the contrary. having
found late working advantageous.
Mr.. Magraw being called upon for an
essay on roads assigned him at the last
meeting, stated that the earliest roads of
which We have any definite account are
the Roman highways, notable among
them the Appan way. They were of the
most substantial character, existing to
this day These roads were constructed
of broken stone, the base of which was a
stratum, cemented with lime. Other
roads were of flint and pebbles laid in
mortar. In England McAdam built
roads of stone at least ten inches deep,
and SO drained as to be continually dry.
The cost of the roads in this county for
the past twelve years amounted to $lS9,-
900 or about SIG per mile year. He
contended that sufficient had been spent
on tue Marshall road in this neigh borhood
the past ten years, to have completely
graded and pked it, whereas now the
ioht WIN Oil blC inohCJ Sptul Uu IT, 10 du
indifferent one. He thought it advisable
for the county to buy gravel banks, have
the roads properly drained, and gravel
them. Or if granite is preferable, a
stone crusher could be purchased, and
the stone crushed as needed. He also
thought the township system better than
th,n,rht >it TO
have number of principal roads through
the county, as main arteries of travel, for
which perhaps state aid could be obtained.
He did not think all the money appro-
priated for roads had been expended
upon them. Mr.. Magraw stated that
owing to want OF time he was not able to
present the subject as fully as he had
intended. He was then requested by a
resolution of the club to present the sub
jsct more fully at the December meeting.
Criticisms being in order, Mr.. Moore
did not think any additional legislation
was needed, since the present road law if
its provisions wele complied with was suf-
iicient. Some amendments were required
perhaps, and he advised IA road commits
sioner for each district after the manner
of the Township system.
Mr.. Duyckinck stated that the road
question concerned every farmer, but he
thought it difficult to arrive at any con
clusion satisfactory to all. He approved
of assessing each district, and expending
the money in each district as assessed.
The trouble was to get COMPETENT men
to repair roads lie thought supervisors
should have authority to call upon per
soas whose property bounded upon roads
to work thereon, or to send men to do it,
VIXEN required.
Mr. Henry 5. Gouion had no remarks
to make, and did not think the club
SHOULD take The initiative i'll the matter.
Nj. John Z. Wilson had no practical
knowledge on the subject. He thought
the present system had some adsant.g IS
over previous ones, but thought favor
ably of the township system.
Mr.. John 5. Ewing agreed with Mr..
Wilson in his opinion OF the present sys-
identify all interested, with the needed
improvements in our roads.
Mr.. Balderson said he had been deeply
interested in the subject of public roads
and regretted that Mr.. Mlgraw had not
completed his essay. He referred to the
fact that III Older countries public high
ways were kept in the best condition. He
thought public interest in this country
had been lessened on the subject by rea,
by railroads. He deprecated the system
of putting dirt on the public roads from
year to year and, had money been judi,
cously expended, our highways could be
travelled with comfort at all seasons.
Such would now be the case. had u sys-
tenn of turnpiking them bsen adopted IS
years ago.
Mr.. Michener did not see anything ob
jectonabIe in our present road law, if
garded it superior to any previous law.
MIR. Noyes thought favorably of Mr..
Magraw' suggestions, but advocated get
ting the county out of debt before expsr-
imenting with any new road laws.
Mr.. John r. Bond, referring u the Ro-
man roads. reminded the club that in
those days they could command their la
bor and that the public highways aqua
duets and wonderful temples were built
without reference to human life or suffer
ing.
Mr.. Carson said he was opposed to the
present system of road mending, because
incompetent men were employed to do
the work. II asked how it would do foI
the commissioners to app )int man for
each district, whose duty it should be to
see that the roads We're kept in proper
repair.
Criticisms were then closed.
The president appointed Messrs WI
son, NOyes and John K. Bond a commit
tee to examine aud report on condition of
Mr.. Magraw's stock, premises, &c. \
recess was then tax en- for dinner After
enjoying the bountiful repast furnished
by their host the club reassem bled. Tue
committee reported that they had found
Mr.. Magraw stock in most excellent CON
dition. HIS crops of hay and potatoes of
the best quality aud of the latter about
1000 bushels. A Eureka mower with a Z